P03-16 Motivating playgrounds: Understanding how school playgrounds support autonomy, competence, and relatedness of tweens

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) is an important factor contributing to general health. PA declines rapidly during tween years (9-12 years) when children's social world changes. During tween years, children's self-consciousness develops and their focus on social status, friendships, and appearance increase. It is therefore important to consider how to motivate tween's to be physically active. School playgrounds can contribute substantially to children's PA and are considered key contexts for children to be physically and socially active. Despite the potential of school playgrounds, little is known about how to motivate tweens to use school playgrounds. Use of motivational theories in health research has increased rapidly in the last 20 years and the Self-Determination Theory has been used to conceptualize and analyze motivation. Using the three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) proposed by the Self-Determination Theory, this qualitative study aimed to investigate how school playgrounds can support tweens to enhance their autonomous motivation for PA on school playgrounds. Methods We interviewed 56 tweens in focus group go-along interviews in their school playground. Results We found that playgrounds could support each of the three basic psychological needs. School playgrounds supported the need for autonomy when the tweens could freely choose from different play equipment pieces. Furthermore, playgrounds should provide enough space to avoid noisy areas and congestion. To support competence, playgrounds should facilitate challenges at different levels, enabling the tweens to practice and experience task mastery. These challenges should contain an element of risk where the tweens can experience a high degree of competence. Playgrounds provide a unique possibility for making and strengthening social bonds. To support relatedness, playgrounds should include areas to hang out and talk with friends of a similar age. Conclusion This research highlighted the importance of incorporating tweens' perspectives in playground design to attract and retain them in play and PA in school playgrounds.


Background
Physical activity (PA) is an important factor contributing to general health. PA declines rapidly during tween years (9-12 years) when children's social world changes. During tween years, children's self-consciousness develops and their focus on social status, friendships, and appearance increase. It is therefore important to consider how to motivate tween's to be physically active. School playgrounds can contribute substantially to children's PA and are considered key contexts for children to be physically and socially active. Despite the potential of school playgrounds, little is known about how to motivate tweens to use school playgrounds. Use of motivational theories in health research has increased rapidly in the last 20 years and the Self-Determination Theory has been used to conceptualize and analyze motivation. Using the three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) proposed by the Self-Determination Theory, this qualitative study aimed to investigate how school playgrounds can support tweens to enhance their autonomous motivation for PA on school playgrounds.

Methods
We interviewed 56 tweens in focus group go-along interviews in their school playground.

Results
We found that playgrounds could support each of the three basic psychological needs. School playgrounds supported the need for autonomy when the tweens could freely choose from different play equipment pieces. Furthermore, playgrounds should provide enough space to avoid noisy areas and congestion. To support competence, playgrounds should facilitate challenges at different levels, enabling the tweens to practice and experience task mastery. These challenges should contain an element of risk where the tweens can experience a high degree of competence. Playgrounds provide a unique possibility for making and strengthening social bonds. To support relatedness, playgrounds should include areas to hang out and talk with friends of a similar age.

Conclusion
This research highlighted the importance of incorporating tweens' perspectives in playground design to attract and retain them in play and PA in school playgrounds. Keywords: Tweens, school playgrounds, psychological needs, self-determination theory, physical activity Abstract citation ID: ckac095.053 P03-17 Evaluation of an asset-based, participatory physical activity promotion intervention in Dutch adolescents: a parallel group randomized trial tend to be less physically active and thus become more vulnerable to health risks. Engaging adolescents becoming agents of their active lifestyle could potentially catalyze the impact of interventions. Therefore, the effects of an asset-based physical activity promotion intervention on the physical activity behavior and physical fitness of pre-vocational students was evaluated, taking into account the extent to which the students were involved in the design and implementation of the interventions. Methods This randomized controlled trial included 2286 prevocational students divided between an intervention and control group. Innovative triple-i interactive research methods were used to develop and implement tailor-made interventions in cocreation with students and teachers. Self-reported physical activity behavior and direct assessments of physical fitness levels were determined on baseline and two annual follow-ups. Student involvement was determined by validated questionnaires. Generalized estimating equations were performed to determine intervention effects over time. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of the extent of student involvement.

Results
No intervention effects were found for total physical activity level, screen time, active transport and sports activities (CI includes zero; p > 0.05). Positive effects of the intervention were found for the long jump (b = 3.44; CI = 1.29:5.58; p = 0.01), the handgrip strength (b = 0.55; CI = 0.02:1,08;